1.Measuring the length of different types of whip "How do you know what length to buy"?

The Stock whip or Handle whip is measured from the handle keeper loop to the end of the plaited thong only.

EG: 6' Stock whip- 6 foot of thong + 1 1/2 foot of handle plus 3 foot of fall = 10 1/2 feet long without the cracker/popper.

The bull whip is measured from the butt of the handle to the fall knot.

EG: 6' Bull whip- 6 foot of plaited thong about 3 foot of fall = 9 feet long without the cracker/popper.

The Snake whip is measured the same as a Bull whip.

The signal whip is measured from the butt of the handle to the braid in cracker/popper.

EG: 6' Signal whip- 6 foot of plaited thong about 1 foot of braid in popper/cracker = 7 feet long.

2.Leather or Nylon "What is the best for starting out"?

Those who make nylon whips will say nylon and those who make leather would say leather. I have made both and repaired many of both.

It depends on what you want out of whip cracking and what you will be doing with the whip.

FACT. Nylon whips still load with water and get real heavy just like leather or worse.

FACT. Nylon whips still ware out and blow apart.

FACT. Nylon whips still need to be maintained.

You are either one or the other but when you use or make both what one can offer is different than another. Just like one maker is different than another.

Just ask any of the worlds top whip crackers they'll set you straight!

3."Why do some of my cheap Cow hide whips with no plaited belly work just as good or better

than the high plaited Kangaroo hide whips with plaited bellies"?

If a whip is well made (even 4 plaited) and then well balanced it will flow well and will crack no matter how many plaits.

I get a lot of people coming to my work shops and trying out many whips and saying that what suites there style might

not be the 72 plaited 5 plaited belly Kangaroo hide whip.

All the belly does is control the whips shape over time. But the part that wares out is the part that does the most work.

4. A shot loaded whip or none loaded and what about the weight in the butt?

FACT. Loading a whip doesn't make it better or worse it just allows the whip to be thinner for the weight.

FACT. Weighting a whip with shot can mean you use less energy to crack it.

FACT. None loaded whips need to be a little thicker to get the throw weight and if you don't have a butt weight, it will put extra stress on your arm.

FACT. The whip needs to be balanced for the job you are wanting to do with it.